21-004 Deputies Arrest Seminole Middle School Student for Text Message Threats
School Shooting Threat Arrest
Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
-School Resource Unit
Laybin Robert Yokley (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 12/6/2008
Charges: Threatening Communications or Threats of Mass Shooting
What:
Deputies have arrested a Seminole Middle School student for sending a text message that he would “shoot up” his school.
When:
The suspect, 12-year-old Laybin Yokley, sent the text message at approximately 10:41 a.m. today, Monday, January 11, 2021. He was arrested at 12:15 p.m.
Where:
Yokley was in class at Seminole Middle School when he sent the text message. He was removed from class and placed under arrest at the school.
Why/How:
Deputies assigned to the School Resource Unit have arrested a Seminole Middle School student for threatening a school shooting.
According to investigators, at 10:41 a.m. today, Monday, January 11, 2021, 12-year-old Laybin Yokley sent a text message threatening a school shooting. The text, which was sent to his friend, stated, “hi. It’s me. Ima shoot up the school.”
The person who received the message went to school administrators immediately and reported the text messages. School administrators and the school resource deputy made contact with Yokley and removed him from class.
Yokley admitted to sending the text message as a joke to his friend using the messaging app “Text Now.” He was arrested and charged with Threatening Communications or Threats of Mass Shooting and transported to the Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center.
Seminole Middle and other area schools were already on high alert from a Snapchat message indicating a school shooting would take place today. Detectives are actively investigating that threat and, at this time, do not believe the two incidents are related.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office offers a Social Media resource to parents called, “A Toolbox for Parents.” The toolbox provides resources to help parents in protecting their families while online and can be found at www.pcsoweb.com.
